Yankees Injury Notes: Updates on Jasson Dominguez, Ian Hamilton and Anthony Rizzo

Here are injury updates on a handful of Yankees...

Jasson Dominguez

The Yankees’ top prospect is “doing well” as he works his way back from a “pretty significant” oblique strain he sustained in late June, manager Aaron Boone said on Tuesday.

“He had live BP yesterday in Tampa, I think off [Nick Burdi],” the skipper said ahead of the Subway Series opener, adding that Dominguez is heading to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes/Barre this week to get built up before “playing games within the week, so he is very close.”

This development could put Dominguez on track to rejoin the Yankees in August, beating earlier expectations of September.

When asked if there was a specific number of at-bats the outfielder would need at Triple-A to satisfy the manager he was ready to return to the big leagues for the first time since he went down with Tommy John last fall, Boone said that wasn’t how they were looking at things.

“He’s an option player, whenever he starts playing he’s available,” the manager said. When the reporter clarified in a follow-up question about how long Dominguez would have to be there before the Yankees called him up, Boone said, “Once he’s healthy he’s eligible to be called up. We optioned him, though. So I’m not looking for a certain number of– when the need arises he’s in play.”

The outfielder had only just returned to the lineup at Triple-A as he was rehabbing from elbow surgery.

He had appeared in 23 games this season across the Yanks’ minor league system, slashing .356/.404/.609 with six home runs and 13 RBI.

Ian Hamilton

The Yankees right-hander is “getting close” and is into his throwing program, Boone said.

“Doing well, still a ways away from being an option because he’s gotta sides and get into lives and things like that,” the skipper added.

Hamilton made 27 appearances this season, pitching to a 4.55 ERA and 1.584 WHIP across 29.2 innings. He has 30 strikeouts to 14 walks.

Anthony Rizzo

Five weeks after sustaining an arm fracture bracing his fall after a collision at first base at Fenway Park, Rizzo was seen doing some conditioning drills on the outfield grass on Tuesday afternoon.

The original timeline for Rizzo’s injury was four to six weeks, but he is not eligible to return from the 60-day IL until August.

Rizzo was off to a rough start to the year, batting .223 with a .630 OPS through 70 games. The first baseman was struggling mightily at the time of his injury, with just five hits in 48 at-bats (.104) with just two extra-base hits (.188 slugging) during 13 games in June.

Giancarlo Stanton

Stanton was taking batting practice off a pitching machine at Yankee Stadium and was seen running a ball out to first base.

The designated hitter was running the bases before Friday’s game and Boone mentioned at the time he’s unsure if his outfielder will require rehab games.

The slugger landed on the IL on June 22 carrying a four-week time frame. The Yanks have yet to announce if the 34-year-old will require a rehab assignment before being activated.